MAIN TERMS AND CONCEPTS: The Scientific Revolution happens over a long period of time, specifically from the early 1500s to the 1600s. One of the main causes was the rise of universities, and knowledge being centered in one place. Here, many intellectuals could discuss and share new ideas and concepts. They termed their direction of study as “natural philosophy,” rather than “science.” Other causes included the Renaissance and exploration. These two events led to new ideas and discoveries, proving there is more to the world than they had once believed. This spawns new interest and curiosity to learn more. They developed new ways to obtain knowledge. Also the changing views and straying away from religion impacted this revolution as well. This revolution resulted in a development of a scientific community, where scientists met and shared their information and ideas in a sort of conference. Philosophy responds to science and affects the way people think. For example, the concepts of the current religion at the time were deeply affected. The scientists and philosophers weren’t trying to change the religion of the people. They were trying to explain the world as mechanisms. This led to the rise of deism, and the belief that God was like a clockmaker, and he made this world, now watches how things are carried out. The scientists, or “natural philosophers” as they referred to themselves, wished to stay away from the religious contradictions that this revolution would lead to. Lastly the debates of John Locke and Thomas Hobbes argued the way a government should be run, Hobbes advocating a strong central government, and Locke vying for a limited authority. The idea of tabula rasa, meaning everyone is born with a blank slate and life is dependent on influences of others, arose from Locke’s positive outlook that everyone was born with good intentions.
MAJOR EVENTS: Aristotle believed that “universe is ten transparent crystal perfect spheres and move. He stated Heaven was the tenth sphere, and angels keep them moving. Also his belief that everything was made up of one or a combination of four elements: earth, wind, fire, and water. Copernicus studied Ptolemy and was an advocate of the heliocentric model, which meant the sun was the center of the universe rather than the earth. He also said the universe couldn’t be perfect because the comets would disrupt the perfect spheres and orbits. Tycho Brahe studied in his observatory, and his assistant Johann Kepler came up with the three laws of planetary motion based on Brahe’s observations and using math and complex formulas. These included: 1. Orbits are elliptical around the sun 2. The planets don’t move at a uniform speed 3. The time it takes a planet to orbit the sun is directly related to its distance from it Galileo perfected the telescope, and was the first person to conduct controlled experiments to accurately observe one variable. He also comes up with the law of inertia, and that objects fall at the same rate in a vacuum. He is arrested for his beliefs that contradict church doctrine. Newton ties all ideas before him into physics. He also invents Calculus, discovers the universal law of gravity, and comes up with the three laws of motion: 1. Every body will remain at rest or in a uniform state of motion unless acted upon by outside force 2. Force is equal to math times acceleration 3. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction Sir Francis Bacon advocated using data to prove things. Renee Descartes invents Geometry, and uses deductive reasoning. Thomas Hobbes’ and John Locke’s ideas on government and human nature change the outlooks of many. Blaise Pascal the mathematician studies game theory. GREAT THINKERS OF THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION • Nicholaus Copernicus (1473-1543) • Copernicus was a Polish scientist, more specifically, an astronomer • Copernicus was the first astronomer to attempt to convince the world to believe that the Earth revolved around the sun. • This theory that he coined was known as the Heliocentric Theory. • Copernicus’ work contradicted Ptolemy’s theory that the Earth was the center of the universe (geocentric). • With his heliocentric theory, he saved the world from about 1,500 years of ignorance. • Copernicus is the father of modern astronomy even if his ideas weren’t immediately accepted during his time. • With his theories and knowledge, he was able to pave the way for many scientists that came after him, and his presence was felt even long after he was gone. • Tycho Brahe (1546-1601) • Brahe was a Danish astronomer who studied the work of Copernicus. • He discovered that Ptolemy and Aristotle had been wrong with their theories of celestial spheres. • Brahe spent most of his time in his astronomy lab staring through a hole in the ceiling (probably didn’t have any dates on Friday nights). • He was one of the last astronomers not to use a telescope. • His goal was to map the planets from a one position perspective to create more accurate star charts for both astronomic and navigational purposes • He also lost a part of his nose in a duel. • Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) • Kapler was a German mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer. • He worked a lot with Brahe in the observatory lab. • Despite having a brilliant scientific mind, Kepler was very religious and believed that God created the universe according to an intelligent plan. • Kepler discovered a new supernova (proved that stars can be created). • By observing Mars, Kepler concluded that the planets rotated around the sun in elliptical patterns. • He also found out that planets do not move at constant speeds. As they near the sun, planets move faster and as they distance themselves from the sun, they slow down. • Antoine Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) • Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch biologist who first discovered red blood cells. • In addition, he discovered protozoa. • He made a more efficient microscope using glass spheres and changed biology forever. • Isaac Newton (1643-1727) • Newton was an English physicist, philosopher, and mathematician. • He is best known for devising the three laws of motion. • He is also the scientist who is recognized for discovering the concept of gravity. • Being a religious man, Newton believed that the universe was created by God, but created using rules. • He felt that it was man’s job to try and rationalize these rules. • He also built the first reflecting telescope. • Despite being the man who laid the groundwork for contemporary physics, and the man who is most attributed to the discovery of differential calculus, Newton was a modest man. • Galileo Galelei (1564-1642) • Galileo was an Italian scientist, • Galileo is credited with perfecting the telescope. • With his new technologies, he charted the phases of Venus. • He also discovered the four prominent moons of Jupiter. (Ganymede, Castillo, Io, Europa) • His support of the heliocentric view of the solar system got him in a great deal of trouble with the Catholic Church. • He was eventually put under house arrest for the rest of his life and died a blind and lonely man. • Galileo had all of the best intentions with his research, but unfortunately, the world didn’t really appreciate his thinking. • Robert Boyle (1627-1691) • One of the founders of modern chemistry, Boyle came up with Boyle’s law (thusly named). • He studied the properties of gases and formulated an equation relating volume, pressure and temperature of a gas. • Before Boyle, most people thought that the only use for chemistry was alchemy (a false science involving turning metal into gold). • He developed an atomic theory and stated that everything was made up of the tiniest particles called atoms. • In Boyle’s book, The Skeptical Chymist, he disproves Aristotle’s belief that everything is composed of four elements. • He defines elements as substances that can’t be broken down into anything smaller. • William Harvey (1578-1657) • Harvey was an English doctor who first diagramed how blood was pumped from the heart to the rest of the body. • He received his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Cambridge. • He was the royal doctor to King James I. • With this knowledge of the circulatory system, future scientists and doctors could better help patients with blood conditions. • Before Harvey, the generally accepted idea was that food was converted to blood in the liver and used for energy. • Margaret Cavendish (1661-1717) • Cavendish was a progressive member of the scientific revolution. • Because she was a woman, most felt that she had no place in science, but she proved them wrong. • She was the prominent female philosopher of her time. • During her time, most notable scientists wrote her off as ridiculous. • Now she is given more credit for her writing on political, social, and religious concerns of her times as well as the plight for more influential positions for women • In a world where women didn’t have much say, she was able to make a positive impact on society. • “A rude nature is worse than a brute nature by so much more as man is better than a beast: and those that are of civil natures and genteel dispositions are as much nearer to celestial creatures as those that are rude and cruel are to devils.”
The Scientific Revolution happens over a long period of time, specifically from the early 1500s to the 1600s. One of the main causes was the rise of universities, and knowledge being centered in one place. Here, many intellectuals could discuss and share new ideas and concepts. They termed their direction of study as “natural philosophy,” rather than “science.” Other causes included the Renaissance and exploration. These two events led to new ideas and discoveries, proving there is more to the world than they had once believed. This spawns new interest and curiosity to learn more. They developed new ways to obtain knowledge. Also the changing views and straying away from religion impacted this revolution as well. This revolution resulted in a development of a scientific community, where scientists met and shared their information and ideas in a sort of conference. Philosophy responds to science and affects the way people think. For example, the concepts of the current religion at the time were deeply affected. The scientists and philosophers weren’t trying to change the religion of the people. They were trying to explain the world as mechanisms. This led to the rise of deism, and the belief that God was like a clockmaker, and he made this world, now watches how things are carried out. The scientists, or “natural philosophers” as they referred to themselves, wished to stay away from the religious contradictions that this revolution would lead to. Lastly the debates of John Locke and Thomas Hobbes argued the way a government should be run, Hobbes advocating a strong central government, and Locke vying for a limited authority. The idea of tabula rasa, meaning everyone is born with a blank slate and life is dependent on influences of others, arose from Locke’s positive outlook that everyone was born with good intentions.
MAJOR EVENTS:
Aristotle believed that “universe is ten transparent crystal perfect spheres and move. He stated Heaven was the tenth sphere, and angels keep them moving. Also his belief that everything was made up of one or a combination of four elements: earth, wind, fire, and water.
Copernicus studied Ptolemy and was an advocate of the heliocentric model, which meant the sun was the center of the universe rather than the earth. He also said the universe couldn’t be perfect because the comets would disrupt the perfect spheres and orbits.
Tycho Brahe studied in his observatory, and his assistant Johann Kepler came up with the three laws of planetary motion based on Brahe’s observations and using math and complex formulas. These included:
1. Orbits are elliptical around the sun
2. The planets don’t move at a uniform speed
3. The time it takes a planet to orbit the sun is directly related to its distance from it
Galileo perfected the telescope, and was the first person to conduct controlled experiments to accurately observe one variable. He also comes up with the law of inertia, and that objects fall at the same rate in a vacuum. He is arrested for his beliefs that contradict church doctrine.
Newton ties all ideas before him into physics. He also invents Calculus, discovers the universal law of gravity, and comes up with the three laws of motion:
1. Every body will remain at rest or in a uniform state of motion unless acted upon by outside force
2. Force is equal to math times acceleration
3. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction
Sir Francis Bacon advocated using data to prove things. Renee Descartes invents Geometry, and uses deductive reasoning.
Thomas Hobbes’ and John Locke’s ideas on government and human nature change the outlooks of many.
Blaise Pascal the mathematician studies game theory.
GREAT THINKERS OF THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
• Nicholaus Copernicus (1473-1543)
• Copernicus was a Polish scientist, more specifically, an astronomer
• Copernicus was the first astronomer to attempt to convince the world to believe that the Earth revolved around the sun.
• This theory that he coined was known as the Heliocentric Theory.
• Copernicus’ work contradicted Ptolemy’s theory that the Earth was the center of the universe (geocentric).
• With his heliocentric theory, he saved the world from about 1,500 years of ignorance.
• Copernicus is the father of modern astronomy even if his ideas weren’t immediately accepted during his time.
• With his theories and knowledge, he was able to pave the way for many scientists that came after him, and his presence was felt even long after he was gone.
• Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)
• Brahe was a Danish astronomer who studied the work of Copernicus.
• He discovered that Ptolemy and Aristotle had been wrong with their theories of celestial spheres.
• Brahe spent most of his time in his astronomy lab staring through a hole in the ceiling (probably didn’t have any dates on Friday nights).
• He was one of the last astronomers not to use a telescope.
• His goal was to map the planets from a one position perspective to create more accurate star charts for both astronomic and navigational purposes
• He also lost a part of his nose in a duel.
• Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)
• Kapler was a German mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer.
• He worked a lot with Brahe in the observatory lab.
• Despite having a brilliant scientific mind, Kepler was very religious and believed that God created the universe according to an intelligent plan.
• Kepler discovered a new supernova (proved that stars can be created).
• By observing Mars, Kepler concluded that the planets rotated around the sun in elliptical patterns.
• He also found out that planets do not move at constant speeds. As they near the sun, planets move faster and as they distance themselves from the sun, they slow down.
• Antoine Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)
• Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch biologist who first discovered red blood cells.
• In addition, he discovered protozoa.
• He made a more efficient microscope using glass spheres and changed biology forever.
• Isaac Newton (1643-1727)
• Newton was an English physicist, philosopher, and mathematician.
• He is best known for devising the three laws of motion.
• He is also the scientist who is recognized for discovering the concept of gravity.
• Being a religious man, Newton believed that the universe was created by God, but created using rules.
• He felt that it was man’s job to try and rationalize these rules.
• He also built the first reflecting telescope.
• Despite being the man who laid the groundwork for contemporary physics, and the man who is most attributed to the discovery of differential calculus, Newton was a modest man.
• Galileo Galelei (1564-1642)
• Galileo was an Italian scientist,
• Galileo is credited with perfecting the telescope.
• With his new technologies, he charted the phases of Venus.
• He also discovered the four prominent moons of Jupiter. (Ganymede, Castillo, Io, Europa)
• His support of the heliocentric view of the solar system got him in a great deal of trouble with the Catholic Church.
• He was eventually put under house arrest for the rest of his life and died a blind and lonely man.
• Galileo had all of the best intentions with his research, but unfortunately, the world didn’t really appreciate his thinking.
• Robert Boyle (1627-1691)
• One of the founders of modern chemistry, Boyle came up with Boyle’s law (thusly named).
• He studied the properties of gases and formulated an equation relating volume, pressure and temperature of a gas.
• Before Boyle, most people thought that the only use for chemistry was alchemy (a false science involving turning metal into gold).
• He developed an atomic theory and stated that everything was made up of the tiniest particles called atoms.
• In Boyle’s book, The Skeptical Chymist, he disproves Aristotle’s belief that everything is composed of four elements.
• He defines elements as substances that can’t be broken down into anything smaller.
• William Harvey (1578-1657)
• Harvey was an English doctor who first diagramed how blood was pumped from the heart to the rest of the body.
• He received his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Cambridge.
• He was the royal doctor to King James I.
• With this knowledge of the circulatory system, future scientists and doctors could better help patients with blood conditions.
• Before Harvey, the generally accepted idea was that food was converted to blood in the liver and used for energy.
• Margaret Cavendish (1661-1717)
• Cavendish was a progressive member of the scientific revolution.
• Because she was a woman, most felt that she had no place in science, but she proved them wrong.
• She was the prominent female philosopher of her time.
• During her time, most notable scientists wrote her off as ridiculous.
• Now she is given more credit for her writing on political, social, and religious concerns of her times as well as the plight for more influential positions for women
• In a world where women didn’t have much say, she was able to make a positive impact on society.
• “A rude nature is worse than a brute nature by so much more as man is better than a beast: and those that are of civil natures and genteel dispositions are as much nearer to celestial creatures as those that are rude and cruel are to devils.”